How to Apply Non-UV Gel Nail Wraps
Ready to wear the moment you open the pack — no UV lamp, no curing, no equipment. Just prep, apply, smooth down, and you're done.
⚠️ Important: They cannot be used as extensions. They need the support of your natural nail underneath and will break if you make them longer than your nail.
These should last up to 2 weeks if correctly applied and depending on how careful you are with your nails. Like all products, they have a shelf-life of 9 months for best results.
✅ Quick Checklist
- ☐ Wipe each nail with an alcohol wipe and let it fully dry — oil-free nails are the key to a long-lasting application
- ☐ Warm the wraps and your hands with a hairdryer — cold is the #1 cause of lifting
- ☐ Work one nail at a time — wipe, warm, then apply before moving to the next
- ☐ Apply close to the cuticle, not on or touching it
- ☐ Press each wrap down firmly across the whole nail, then around the edges — sides and free edge — to seal it
- ☐ Trim any excess with scissors, then file the free edge downwards to shape it — that's what gives a seamless finish that won't catch
- ☐ Avoid water for at least 2 hours — ideally longer
1. Prep Your Nails
Make sure your nails and nail bed are totally clean from any cuticle residue or oil before applying your wraps. We stock packs of 100 alcohol wipes on the store which are perfect for this.
2. Choose & Prepare Your Wraps
To get a better fit you can cut your wraps or gently stretch them with your fingers before applying. Use our sizing chart to find the right fit. It is better to go slightly smaller than too large — a wrap that overlaps your cuticle or sidewall will lift faster.
Warming them (and your hands) slightly with a hairdryer can help to make the adhesive stickier, especially if it is cold or very warm, or the wrap itself has been stored somewhere cold. I do this every time I apply.
3. Apply
Make sure the wraps are placed close to your cuticle and not on or touching it.
Once the wrap is on, press it down firmly across the whole nail — not just the middle. Start at the centre and work outwards to push out any trapped air. Then go back around the edges: down both sides and along the free edge, pressing firmly with your thumb as you go, and run your thumb over the tip a few times to seal it. The edges are where a wrap starts to lift, so this press is the step that decides how long they last.
4. Trim & Shape
Trim any excess wrap with a pair of scissors so it matches the length of your natural nail, then file the free edge downwards — a gentle angle from the top of your nail towards the tip. Filing downwards is what gives a seamless finish and stops the edge catching on anything.
There is no curing step with these wraps, so trimming and filing is simply the last thing you do.
5. Finish
Avoid contact with water during the first 2 hours after application to let the adhesive set fully. Your wraps will continue to settle and harden slightly over the first 24 hours. They may feel a little flexible at first, which is normal.
To protect your nails when they are done I recommend wearing gloves for washing up.
Aftercare & Removal
Store unused wraps in the original black packaging, sealed with tape, and in a drawer away from direct heat and sunlight. Keep away from direct sunlight.
To remove them please do not just peel them off, as you may damage your nails. Use a cuticle stick with cuticle oil and gently work them away from your nail.
They're lifting at the edges.
This is the most common issue with non UV wraps. Make sure your nails are completely clean and dry before applying. After application, press the edges firmly and run your thumb over them several times. If the wrap is cold, warm it with a hairdryer first to make it more pliable. A light file across the free edge can also help stop them catching.
They don't stick.
Warm them with a hairdryer before application and ensure they adhere. Make sure your nails and nail bed are totally clean from any cuticle residue or oil before applying. Do not touch them unnecessarily while applying. In colder weather, warming the wraps first really helps — it makes them a lot stickier.
They're not pliable enough.
Warm them with a hairdryer to soften them before application. In cold weather, warm the whole pack under your arm or in a pocket for 5-10 minutes and warm your hands first.
The sizes don't match my nails.
Use our sizing chart to find the right fit. You can also cut wraps down to size or gently stretch them to fit. It is better to go slightly smaller than too large — a wrap that overlaps your cuticle or sidewall will lift faster.
I have naturally oily nails.
That's a real thing and not your fault. Wipe each nail with an extra alcohol wipe and let it fully evaporate; you can also use a nail dehydrator or acid-free primer first. Skip hand cream and cuticle oil for a few hours before applying. Oily nails may get slightly shorter wear (1-2 weeks instead of 3) — that's normal.
Hot or cold weather.
Hot (above 20°C): nails produce more moisture — work one nail at a time and wipe each just before applying.
Cold (below 10°C): warm the pack and your hands first, as cold makes the wraps stiffer and harder to mould.
Still stuck?
If you've tried these and they're still not working, just use the chat at the bottom of the screen and we'll help you out.
Featured collection
Non UV gel wraps
